Req. No. 766 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
SENATE BILL 55 By: Stanley
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to the Oklahoma National Gua rd
Educational Assistance Act; amending Section 1,
Chapter 24, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 202 2, Section
3231), which relates to creation of the Oklahoma
National Guard Educational Assist ance Program;
increasing maximum number of hours in a gr aduate
program for which assistance may be provided;
modifying eligibility cr iteria; removing language
regarding repayment of assistance under certain
circumstances; providing for ineligibility under
certain circumstances; modifying language regarding
submission of certai n hardship waiver request;
updating statutory references; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 24, O.S.L. 2022
(70 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 32 31), is amended to read as follows:
Section 3231. A. This act shall be known and may be c ited as
the “Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act”.
B. As used in this act:
1. “Oklahoma educational insti tution” means an institution of
higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher
Education;
Req. No. 766 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2. “Eligible Guard member” means a current member of the
Oklahoma National Guard in good standing who has a high school
diploma or who has completed General Educational Development (GED)
requirements and who has secured admission to and enrolled in an
Oklahoma educational institution;
3. “Graduate program” means a program offered by an Oklahoma
educational institution that leads to the award of a master’s
degree;
4. “Program” means the Oklahoma National Guard Educational
Assistance Program established pursuant to the provisions of this
section; and
5. “Undergraduate program” means a program offered by an
Oklahoma educational institution that leads to the award of an
associate’s degree or a baccalaureate degree.
C. There is hereby created the Oklahoma National Guard
Educational Assistance Program to provide assistance to eligible
Guard members who enroll in an Oklahoma educational institution.
Subject to the availability of funds, t he amount of assistance shall
be equivalent to the amount of resident tuition, mandatory fees, and
academic service fees for courses in which the eligible Guard member
is enrolled, not to exceed a maximum of eighteen (18) credit hours
each semester.
1. The amount of assistance provided to an eligible Guard
member enrolled in an undergraduate program shall not exceed a
Req. No. 766 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
maximum of one hundred twenty (120) credit hours in pursu it of an
associate’s degree and/or a baccalaureate degree.
2. Subject to the assistance for eli gible Guard members
enrolled in undergraduate programs being fully funded, assistance
shall be provided to an eligible Guard member with a baccalaureate
degree enrolled in a graduate program. The amount of assistance
provided to an eligible Guard member e nrolled in a graduate program
shall not exceed a maximum of forty (40) sixty (60) credit hours in
pursuit of a master’s degree.
3. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be
granted without any limitation other than the amount of fun ds
available for the Program and the number of eligible Guard members
who apply.
4. Assistance allowed by this section shall not be allowed for
courses taken in excess of the requireme nts for completion of an
undergraduate program or a graduate program, whichever is applicable
for the eligible Guard member.
D. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be
allocated to the Oklahoma educational institution from the Oklahoma
National Guard Educational Assis tance Revolving Fund created
pursuant to Section 2 of this act Section 3232 of this title.
E. To be eligible to apply for the Program, an eligible Guard
member shall:
Req. No. 766 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1. Have have at least one (1) year ninety (90) days remaining
on his or her enlistment contract at the beg inning of any semester
for which the member applies for assistance pursuant to this
section;
2. Agree in writing to complete his or her current service
obligation in the Oklahoma Nationa l Guard; and
3. Agree in writing to serve actively in good standing with the
Oklahoma National Guard for not less than twenty-four (24) months
after completion of the last semester for which the member receives
assistance pursuant to this section.
F. To retain eligibility for the Program, an eligible Guard
member shall:
1. Maintain good academic standing a nd satisfactory academic
progress according to stand ards of the Oklahoma educational
institution in which the member is enrolled;
2. Maintain the requ irements for retention and degree
completion as established by the Ok lahoma educational institution in
which the member is enrolled;
3. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0
scale; and
4. Maintain satisfactory participation in the Oklahoma National
Guard.
G. An eligible Guard member seeking assistance pursuant to the
provisions of this sec tion shall submit an application on a form
Req. No. 766 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
prescribed by the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma to
the Educational Service Office of the Military Department prior to
the semester for which assistance is sought. The eligible Guard
member’s Commander or his or her designee shall confirm a member’s
standing and eligibility to the Oklahoma educational institution in
which the student is enrolled.
H. The eligible Guard member’s Commander may deny an
application submitted by an eligible Guard member for continued
Program assistance if he or she fails to comply with the provision s
of paragraph 1, 2, or 3 of subsection F of this section .
I. An eligible Guard member who has received Program assistance
pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply
with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this sectio n
shall be required to repay an amount to be calculated as follows:
1. Determine the total amount of assistance provided pursuant
to the provisions of this section;
2. Divide the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this
subsection by twenty-four (24); and
3. Multiply the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this
subsection by the number of months the member did not fulfill the
requirements of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section.
Repayments shall be deposited into the Oklahoma National Guard
Educational Assistance Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2
of this act ineligible for future assistance .
Req. No. 766 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
J. An eligible Guard member who has received Program as sistance
pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply
with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section
due to hardship circumstances may request a waiver from repayment.
A submit a waiver request shall be submitted in writing to the
Adjutant General.
K. J. By July 1 annually, the Oklahoma State Re gents for Higher
Education shall notify the Adjutant General o f the amount of funding
available in the Okl ahoma National Guard Educati onal Assistance
Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act Section
3232 of this title.
L. K. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
promulgate rules to implement the provision s of this act the
Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act including
deadlines for submission of applications required by subsection G of
this section. The Adjutant General may promulgate regulations to
implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
59-1-766 EB 12/20/2022 9:17:38 AM